StillSmart

Until I get condenser waterfor my T500 sorted, I'm having to hammer the hell out of my air/smart/easy still.

I ferment sugar wash in plastic. I strip with the tiddler, with both a hand full of rashig rings as boil enhancers and distillers conditioner to prevent foaming etc.

I let down with RO water and do spirit runs as above.

But irrespective of our generally accepted need for some copper in the system to sort any sulphides etc, it means, that as far as I'm aware, there is none (at the moment).

The current batch I'm drinking is fine. Plus I'm pretty sure that the condenser in the still isn't copper, or is it ? (I took the lid apart for cleaning a while back - no copper evident - or maybe it's been tinned/plated for some reason).

Maybe it's because using refined sugar, it's less of an issue i.e. when "they" were refining the sugar they removed any sulphides present ?

Or maybe my Z filter manages the small amount that might get through ?

I just can't get my head round it, especially given the conventional wisdom. I'll probably get a small rolls of 6 or 8mm ductile and cut it into rings and use that as boil enhancers to see if I can notice any improvement or deterioration in flavour.......

Whaddya reckon ?

There is some debate in the distilling world on whether copper is beneficial or harmful. Sorry, but I don't have any links at hand. From my limited recall, it is only beneficial for some washes and products. Perhaps not even then. Not all conventional wisdom is true.

Disclaimer: I have copper in my still.

Chuck

For what it's worth...I came across This a while back. Everyone has to make their own choice.

I have tried with and without copper with the same wash.

I much prefer with. Smoother and cleaner nose.

My EZ has a mix of real copper 1p & 2p and some copper pipe offcuts.

I've read somewhere its benificial in the vapour path but detrimental in the product condensor, just can't remember where I read it!

Possibly on the SD forum.

Icefevers link is not light reading for a Monday morning,but having persevered with it,it concludes that copper
placed in the wash still condenser or spirit still pot works best at removing various sulphur compounds,from a
commercial sample of malt whisky wash.
Most of us use the same still for both operations.
I do know that my copper boils pieces come from a strip run much cleaner than a spirit run,in either the smart still or it's big brother,and my big condenser is an awful lot of copper.
What I don't know is which of the various types of wash that I run produce the more or less suphur compounds.
Which brings us back to where Phantom started this.....

Robert.

Sulphur is a by product of fermentation.

The sulphur compounds & volumes will vary depending on what the mash please made from ( wheat, sugar, etc etc) AND the choice of yeast.

Another benefit to using real copper 1p & 2p and some copper pipe offcuts, is the noise they make. You can tell what is going on with the boil. Even to the point of when it is coming to the end of the run.

I (now) use copper exclusively, though for sure I didn't in previous times.
I (now) know that well-ended ferments, decent/patient cuts and (where applicable) a targeted oak soak are far more likely to produce obvious end-product quality variant than whatever the metal is in the still (exceptions, for sure)....
BUT: somewhere,is my personal-opinion-based-on-others-personal-opinion that copper is your friend at high alcohol levels just like plastic beyond 40% is not......etc

Easydrinker wrote:.........
I do know that my copper boils pieces come from a strip run much cleaner than a spirit run.......Robert.

I agree. this is to do with the difference in acidity in the WINE/WASH (strip run) which is obviously not there in the alcohol (spirit run)

i used copper for the first time last week in my airstill ,i could taste the difference ,i think the spirits taste better with copper in

my personal experience is that with washes with something like molasses which can be higher in sulphur compounds, the distillate is rather nasty with a rotten egg smell on the stripping run if there is no copper.
A little time and this sorts itself out, but its better to include some copper if for nothing more than a more pleasant distilling session.

For neutral type washes, I don't notice any difference whatsoever, but I have heard several eastern europeans claim it makes their vodka worse, than if using all stainless. So I'm on the fence on this one.

mashy wrote:Another benefit to using real copper 1p & 2p and some copper pipe offcuts, is the noise they make. You can tell what is going on with the boil. Even to the point of when it is coming to the end of the run.

With you on the boil noises here,I find it useful and companionable.
Don't forget,UK Copper coins made before 1992 are 97 per cent copper,
Those minted after are copper coated steel.

Not looking to get into a fight with the good Capt.here,but a simple observation,that I am willing to have tweaked,to fit modern life.
For centuries,all over Europe(and elsewhere)people have made stills and condensers from easily worked copper.
I will not argue that some of the new fangled distillers,using Stainless steel,might find a superior taste using it,what would their Grand-daddies have said?
Just throwing stuff into what should be a healthy debate.

Robert.

Easydrinker wrote:

mashy wrote:Another benefit to using real copper 1p & 2p and some copper pipe offcuts, is the noise they make. You can tell what is going on with the boil. Even to the point of when it is coming to the end of the run.

Yes indeed - real copper. Get your magnet out !

..... and steel one will do odd things in there.

Bollocks! I could have sworn I posted a response.......

Unless one of you crafty buggers has binned it

Anyway, looks like my best option will be just to chop up some copper scrap and use it as additional boil enhancers (using rashig rings ATM - not one of those silly little bags - I bought a kilo some years back).

Got enough wash on the go so I can test to see if there's any metallic after taste that results (because there's no way of getting it into the vapour path alone, so it's got to go into the wash in the boiler - smart/easy/air still of course.

Not an issue with the T500.......